The brilliance of the art of the APY (Anangu Pitjanjatjara Yankunyjatjara) Lands has been obvious to people like me lucky enough to travel widely through the Aboriginal art world since at least 2000. So it came as a surprise to realise that the survey involving more than a hundred artists from the seven tiny communities that dot the deserts across the north of South Australia is the first that Sydney has ever had the chance to see. And as I'm writing towards the end of its stay at the dynamic little Hazelhurst Gallery in Gymea, you'd better leap on a train to Gymea and make the 400 metre walk into the Gallery as soon as possible - before 11th December. On your way in, you'll be greeted by “the matriarchs and patriarchs” of the communities in the words of photographer Robert Fielding, who has captured some of the serious joy that goes with reflecting their culture on canvas in the faces of these mostly elderly artists. Mostly elderly – but the sad fact to emerge from talking to curator Carrie Kibbler at the Gallery is that the honorific 'Kunmanara' is attached to far too many of these wonderful people's names – reflecting their demise. Two have actually died since the exhibition's opening on 15 October, and seven others amongst Ngananampa Kililpil – that's Our Stars in Pitjanjatjara, reflecting the ownership of the exhibition by the communities – have also 'shot through'....shooting stars in the best possible sense. The death of Kunmanara (Gordon) Ingkatji during the year-long development phase of the show was a knife-edge time, for he was such a revered figure that the Sorry Business that would follow might have halted the whole project. But, in fact, it acted as an inspiration to the 22 senior male artists who» Read More

Entries open today for the 2017 34th Telstra NATSIAAs. And 2017 offers opportunities to a new generation of artists with the creation of two NEW categories in the Awards. Entries close on Friday 17 March, 2017. The new Telstra Multimedia...» Read More

There's still time to attend Adelaide's Spirit Festival Presents and experience a world of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Spirit through original fashion, dance, music, visual art, creative workshops and more. At the Tandanya Art Cafe experience intimate acoustic...» Read More

This article contains an image of the artist. Artist, dancer, teacher, and latterly, film-star, Nyilpirr Spider Snell has died in Fitzroy Crossing, the Kimberley town he settled in after a desert birth and a working life as a stockman in...» Read More

BHP Billiton, the State Government of South Australia and Art Gallery of South Australia will today announce a truly impressive $17.54 million partnership to present the TARNANTHI Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art annually until 2021. BHP...» Read More

In August, I wrote about the ceremonial makarrata that was held on the Crocodile Island of Milingimbi, off Arnhemland that bound the 53 signatories to its final agreement to make an effort within 12 months to bring their collected art...» Read More

Renowned Indigenous artists are visiting Japan for two festival days this month, celebrating the opening of the National Museum of Australia’s One Road: Aboriginal Art from Australia’s Deserts exhibition in Chiba, outside Tokyo. This is a touring exhibition based on...» Read More

A major new Aboriginal art exhibition featuring 50 new and commissioned works from across the vast APY Lands of South Australia will open at the Hazelhurst Regional Gallery in Sydney's south this weekend. Nganampa Kililpil: Our Stars brings together artists...» Read More

Current Exhibitions

Industry Corner: Exhibition

The brilliance of the art of the APY (Anangu Pitjanjatjara Yankunyjatjara) Lands has been obvious to people like me lucky enough to travel widely through the Aboriginal art world since at least 2000. So it came as a surprise to...» Read More

Industry Corner: Event

Entries open today for the 2017 34th Telstra NATSIAAs. And 2017 offers opportunities to a new generation of artists with the creation of two NEW categories in the Awards. Entries close on Friday 17 March, 2017. The new Telstra Multimedia...» Read More

Events: Event

So much news to share with you, I'm having to collate it all into a single story: 1. The Istanbul Biennial is about to hit the headlines as Sydney's last Biennale did – with action by the artists involved in...» Read More

Events: Event

More than 300 artists from across Australia will showcase work in TARNANTHI (pronounced TAR-nan-dee), the inaugural Festival of Contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art, right across Adelaide from 8 -18 October - with exhibitions continuing at the SA Art...» Read More